Folding trestle.



S. HARRIS.

FOLDING TBESTLE.-

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 26. 1909. 932,702. I Patented Aug. 31,1909.4

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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S. R. HARRIS.

FOLDING TRESTLE.

APPLIOATION FILED Am.,2s,1ooo.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

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SAMUEL E.- Hanms, or cHArTANooGA, TENNESSEE,

I FOLDING TRESTLE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

Application led April 26, 1909. Serial No. 492,326.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL R. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, county of Hamilton, State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Trestles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates tov collapsible or folding trc'stles for supporting scaii'olding, gang ways, and similar purposes; and the object of my improvement is to provide a simple trcstle or horse, of great strength, which may be folded into small space and. is ready for quickly setting up when required,

the object being attained preferably by the use of anole steel bars which are so pivot-ally connected5 to one another that the members are inseparable and fold into' one another, thereby folding into the least possible space and yet forming an absolutely solid and well braced construction when set up; and the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts, asshown in this specification and the drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the trest-le in the set up position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the underside of the trestle in the collapsed position. Fig. 3 is an end view of the trestlein the collapsed position showing the binding clip for securing the parts inthe folded position. Fig. 4 is a perspective view lof \the trestle in a semisetup position showing the construction of the trestleaud the method of setting up the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional view at line X X in Fig. 2 of the T-shaped top bar, or beam, to which the legs are attached, showing the manner of attachment for said legs. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the cross braces for the legs, showing its angular or inturned flanged construction by means of which it braces between the legs, and its pivotal and hooked ends. Fig. 7 is a sectional view at line Y Y in Fig. 2; and Fig. S is a sectional view at line Z Z in Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a perspective view lof the metal connecting block for the ends and of the top bar and legs.

l Similar numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the top beam or Abar which is made of a 'l'- shaped steel bar so as to provide a flat upper surface with. a central tongue extending down therefrom to which the legs and braces may be attached. All the remaining members are made of single angle steel bars.

The numeral 11 indicates a slotted wedge shaped metal block having'beveled sides to receive the upper ends of the leg 12 and a central lengthwise slot 14 to receive the downwardly projecting tongue 13 of top p1ece l10. A crosswlse hole 15 is provided in block 11 and tongue 13 for a suitable crosswise bolt 16 for pivotally attaching legs 12.

at such an angle to tongue 13 that they will.'

stand lin a bracing position when set up yet which allows the two legs 12 on each side of tongue 13 to. fold on to one another along each side of said tongue.

A crosswise brace 17 is made of angle iron having an end 18 provided with a hole for pivotally attaching to one of the legs 12 midway of its length, and the opposite end 19 provided with a hooked or open draw slot to engage, a pin 20 `on the opposite leg. Cross braces 17 are provided for each of the ends, as shown in Fig. 1 and the inwardly projecting flange 21 is fitted to the exact distance between the legs 12 when set up so that said inward 'fla-nge 21 braces the legs firmly makin@ them exceedingly rigid. The pin 20 is Apreferably made with a head so as to closely fit upon thev slotted hooked end 19 pressing the brace 17 andv {ia-nge 21 firmly into place, the draw ofthe slot in end 19 aiding in drawing the parts together, thereby forming an exceedingly strong braced construction with `the two legs 12 Aand cross brace 17. The frame so made by the two legs and cross brace is pivotally attached at its upper end to top piece 10, as hereinbefore described. In order to render said frame or leg portion rigid in its position when set up an additional centrally placed brace 22 is provided which is pivotally attached at 23 by a suitable bolt to tongue 13 and has its lower` end 24 so formed as to enter a slot 25 midwayofthe length of cross brace 17. Brace 22 is formed of angle iron and is pivotally attached to the tongue 13 on one of its fiat sides so that each brace 22 will fold against the under side of top bar 10 and against the opposite sides of tongue 13, so that the legs 12 may shut down over braces 22, as

shown in cross section in Figs. 7 and 8. .A pin 26 is provided for insertion through a hole in lower end 24 after `said end has been inserted through hole 25 in brace 17, thereby formed by rendering frame absolutely rigidin its connection to the top piece at each end when in the set u position, yet allovvin ofthe withdrawal of pin 26 and the quick olding of the trestle.

As hereinbefore stated the braces 22 are attached on opposite -sides of tongue 13 and at such a distance from the point of attachment of the block 11 and legs 12 that-.said braces may be folded up within the angle tongue 13 and the top flange of top piece 10 at each side folding into the flange in such a manner that the legs 12 Wit-h braces 21 fold on to braces 22, as shown in sectionin Figs. 7 and 8. Cross braces 17 are so pivotally attached to the legs 12 that they fold in the same angle.

When foldedV the entire trestle may be locked flat, as shown in Figs.l 2 and 3, b means of a clip 27 which is slipped on ends-y wise after the trestle is folded. The spring of the parts when so folded, allowing easy shpping of the clip 27 over the ends of the legs, Asald spring also serving tolock against the clip 27, holding it firmly in V*place and renderin the folded trestle into a compact body firm y bound together which occupies no greater space than the members would occupy if they were se arated from one another and correspondingly folded into one another. It is apparent, however, that the'spring of the steel parts allows clip 27 to be quickly slipped off and the trestle may be easily and qulckly set up for use as described.

It is obvious that springs or other means may be used for locking lower ends 24 through openings 25 in braces 17 in place of the pms 26 without departing from my invention.

. legs and braces will then all swing down and 45' support the toprail. Spread the legs at each end and couple the cross braces locking them fast by pushing the slotted end down firmly over the pin on the opposite leg, then swing each pair of legs outward sufficient for the central braces 22 to clear the cross brace, after which the lower end of each of the middle braces may be passed through the slot 25 in the short brace and the two draw pins or keys 26 inserted. In folding the trestle the central braces 22 must be folded first against the under side of the top rail, then the crosswise braces should each be folded against the leg to which it is pivotally attached, then each pair of legs should be folded against one another on each side of the top rail, after which the clip 27 may be slipped over the outer pair of legs thereby securely folding the entire structure. Addltional holes are provided through said downwardly extending tongue of the T-shaped the-.braced construction of the legY tgp b c the legs of the bar, a block near from said to 'ar 10 each side of both the ugper ends 12 and Vthe upper en s of .the brace 22 morder that diiferentadjustlnents may be given to said legs and braces, or order that extensions may be added to said parts by means of separate angle iron pieces corresponding to sald legs and braces and joined thereto. It is also apparent that the various parts should be made of the length or height or of aweight of structural steel corresponding to the work to be performed, and that such changes will not depart from my invention. l

I claim as new: 1. A trestle com bar, blocks having s Wardly extendin top bar, legs each side of said blocks, a pin through each of said legs and blocks und tongue to foldably connectlsaid parts, and

rising a T-shaped top ots to receive the downmeans for holding said parts in the set-up position. l ,I

2.y An angle iron 'trestle comprising a T- sha ed top bar having a downwar y extending tongue, wedge-shaped blocks near each end of said top bar having slots therein to receive said tongue, four legs placed one cach side of said wedgel shaped blocks, a rivet or bolt through each of said blocks and legs and tongue to foldably hold said arts, a cross braceimidway of the len th o said legs at each end of the trestle, an means for holding said legs in the set-up position.

3. A trestle comprising a T-shaped top each end of said to bar having a slot to receive the downward tending tongue of said T-shaped top bar, a leg each side of each of said blocks, a pin through said legs and block and tongue to foldably hold said parts, across brace for tongue of said T-shaped the legs at each end, and a brace extendingv .bar to said cross braces.

4. A trest e com rising a T-shaped top bar, blocks having s ots to receive the downwardly extending tongue of saidl T-shaped top bar, legs each side of said blocks, a pin through each` of said legs and blocks `and tongue to hold said parts, angle-shaped cross braces pivotally attached at one end to one of said legs and having a draw slot and pin attachment to the other leg, and braces between said legs and top beam.

5. A trestle comprising a T-shaped top bar having a downwardly extending tongue, a wedge-shaped block near cach end of said top bar4 havin la lengthwise slot to receive the downwar y extending tongue of said T-shaped top bar, an angular shaped leg each slde of said wedge-shaped block, a rivet through said block and legs and tongue to foldably connect said parts, an angle iron cross brace pivotally attached in one of said legs and a slot and pin connection for the other end of said cross brace to the o posite leg, one of the anged vsides of said cross brace fitted to the space between said legs `said top bar having a lengthwise slot to receive the downwardly extending tongue of said T-sha ed top bar, van angular. slaped leg each si e of said wedge-shaped block, a rivet through said block and legs and tongue to foldably connect said parts, a cross brace connecting said legs midway of their length and having a slot therein, a brace pivotally attached to said top bar at its upper end and havin a lower 'end Ito be lnserted through sald slot, and a key to hold said inserted end, substantially as and for the purpose'specified- 4 7. An angle iron trestle comprisin a T- shaped top bar having a downwar y extending tongue, a wedge-shapedv block near each end of said bar having a slot to receive the downwardly 'extending tongue, four angle iron legs attached each side of said block and foldable each side of said tongue, angle iron cross braces ivotally attachedv at one end to one of said) legs to fold against the same and having means for enga ingthe opposite leg at each end of the trest e, angle iron braces at the op oste side of said tongue to fold within t e angle of said T- shaped top bar and the lower end 'of said angle iron braces removably attached to said cross braces tobrace against the same, substantially as and for the pur ose specified.

In testimony whereof I ave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL R. HARRIS. Witnesses:

H. W. SPENCER, V N.D1E'rzEN. 

